Selective bell clapper silencer



061;. 16, 1951 w ALLEN SELECTIVE BELL CLAPPER SILENCER Filed Aug. 23, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELECTIVE BELL CLAPPER SILENCER William Merrill Allen, Glendale, Ohio, assignor to Sidney B. Merrill, Cincinnati, Ohio Application August 23, 1950, Serial No. 181,027

6 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a bell silencer for use with bells having a clapper swingable in a single plane to ring the bell. Bells of this type include church bells which are hung in the bell tower of a church and are supported by a yoke which permits swinging of the bell in a single plane. The clapper or tongue is hung from the ear of the bell and consists of a clapper pendant terminated by the clapper itself. When the bell is swung, the clapper contacts the sound-bow of the bell which produces the strike or ring.

In bells of this type and particularly church bells, it is often desirable to toll the bell. At the present time, this tolling or single strike is accomplished by striking the outside of the bell on the sound-bow to produce a single toll or strike. When tolling the bell in this manner, the bell is stationary and the mouth of the bell projects downwardly and thus the sound or note of the bell travels downwardly into the church below and not out over the surrounding country, as is desirable.

In playing chimes or carillons on a series of bells wherein they are swung to produce the strike, it is extremely diflicult to control the swing so that specified sequences of notes may be played, since it is necessary to build up the swing of a bell before the clapper will hit the soundbow and produce the ring.

It is an object of my invention to provide a bell silencer which is attached to the clapper pendant of the bell and which prevents the ringing of the bell by the clapper contacting the sound-bow, although the bell itself is being vigorously swung. By this means, the bell is swung until it reaches its top swing, and the clapper is only permitted to contact the sound-bow and produce a ring at the will of the operator.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a bell silencer which permits tolling of a bell or the striking of a single note with the bow of the bell in its swung position.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a bell silencer which will permit full and continuous swinging of a single bell or of a plurality of bells of different tones and permit the controlled striking of a single or numerous bells at the will of the carillonneur. By this means, definite tones or controlled sequences of notes may be played, such as the ringing of the Angelus and the like.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a bell silencer which may be easily and quickly fitted to the clapper pendant of a, bell already hung without the necessity of disassembling or dismounting the bell at all.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a bell silencer which is extremely rugged in construction and can withstand the constant impact or swinging of the bell without getting out of order or adjustment.

A further object of my invention is to provide a bell silencer which is relatively inexpensive to construct and which may be adapted without complicated adjustments to different sizes and forms of bells.

In the drawing and description, I show and describe my bell silencer used with a bell spring similar to that shown and described in the copending application of Sidney B. Merrill, filed May 23, 1950 Serial No. 163,737 entitled Bell Spring.

However, it is to be understood that my bell silencer with slight modification may be used without the bell spring referred to.

These and other objects of my invention which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment. Reference is now made to the drawings which form a part thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel bell silencer with a portion broken away to show the underlying features.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of my bell silencer with a portion broken away and a portion in section. In this figure the silencer is in position to prevent the clapper from striking the sound bow.

Figure 3 is a side elevation similar to that shown in Figure 2, but with the silencer in position to permit the clapper to strike the sound bow.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of my bell silencer.

Figure 5 is a cross section of a bell at the top of its swing showing my bell silencer in operative position to prevent the clapper from striking the sound bow.

Figure 6 is a cross section of a bell at the top of its swing similar to Figure 5, but with the bell silencer in position to permit the clapper to strike the sound bow.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention I provide a bell clapper silencer which consists of opposed springs projecting from opposite sides of the clapper pendant and in the plane of the 56 swing of theclapper. These springs are mounted on a mechanism attached to the clapper pendant which normally projects the springs outwardly to an extent Where they will prevent the clapper striking the sound bow of the bell. A separate mechanism is provided for each spring which upon the actuation of a switch permits the spring to give when it contacts the barrel of the bell and thus ,permits the clapper to strike the sound bow.

In the modification shown and described, a torque solenoid is mechanically connected .to the mechanism which controls the extension and retractability of each of the two :spr'ings and-are connected through individual circuitstoa switch remote from the bell. When "both-switches are open and the bell itself is swinging, the clapper is prevented from contacting the sound :bow, since the springs contact the bell barreland hold the clapper away. When it is desirable to form a single strike or toll, the bell is swung until it gets up to its ringingsWing-and thenone of the switches is closed for aninstant-whichpermits the spring to'retract andtheclapper to contact the sound bow in 'asingle strike. It "Should'be noted that this strike occurs while the bell is at the top of its swing.

.If it is desirable toletthe b'ell ring freely, both switches are closed whichpermits both springs to Zretract and'the clapper to strike the sound bow .atw'ill.

'In'th'e drawings anddescription which follows,

I have illustrated and described a single spring and its actuating mechanism including the torque solenoid. However, it is tobeunderstood that there is :a similar spring projecting from the otherside of .theclapperpendant'in the plane or the clapper swing whic'his identical in all particulars with theone shown and described.

Referring to'the drawingsfthe bell -I includes the sound bow :2 against which the clapper t strikes to produce ithe'ring. 'The -clapper 3 is mounted on .the 'clapperpendant "4, and'itis only permitted to .swing in 'a single predetermined plane with the swinging of the bell '-I -'on its .yoke 5.

Mounted on the clapper pendant 4,?I provide-a Qbracket '6 which may be "removably bolted by bolts'Tto the clapper pendant'orwhich'may be vdirectly welded to the pendant itself "so as 'to form .a part thereof.

When the bolts 1 "are" used, the device may "be adjusted both around .the .clapper pendant l and up and down the'pendant so that themechanism will contact-the barrel '8 ofthebell'attheproper .spot and 'notdampen the tone of the bell. The .mouth ofthe bell is shownat9.

"The bracket '6 includes .an'integral upstanding boss or stud -III. ,The'boss I9 'isencircledby'a rdtatable disc I I of appreciable "thickness and .which has inwardly ,projecting teeth I2.

'slide"between'theteeth l2 whenthe disc I-l isin' asecond position.

.The bracket It is :mounted on "upstanding bolts I la which are screwed into -a plate I5,

whichin turn is boltedto the bracket fiby the the upperrside eithebracket I 3 "is a 'cup shaped socket I 8 which carries a "heavy helical spring I 9, which also encircles aportionof 'the' swd 1'9.

The spring I9 is held in position within the cup I8 by means of a set screw 20.

On a part of the plate I5 is positioned a torque solenoid with an arm 22 mounted on the armature 23. There is a link 24 from the end of the arm 22 to a pin or bolt 25 on the periphery of the disc II. I also provide a stop pin 26 on the platejfi which projects within a peripheral slot 2'! cutinthe disc II. The positioning of the pin 26 is such that when the disc II is rotated until the pin is at one end of the slot 21, the teeth I2 of the disc II and the teeth I4 of the bracket I3 are inzregistltmithus preventing the movement of the bracket I3 against the springs 11. When the discII is rotated so that the pin 26 is at the other end of the slot 21, the teeth I4 of the 'Qzbracket Itwillclear the teeth I2 of the disc II andv the bracket I3, together with the helical spring I-9, may be moved down the stud I0 against the pressure of the springs N. If desirable, the stop may be incorporated in the 'torque solenoid instead of using the pin 23 and slot 21.

The positioning of the torque solenoid 21 is such and its linkage with the disc I1 is such that when the solenoidfZl iisunenergizedthe disc III will zbeso' positioned iasto-prevent "the :movement -of1the bracket I3 with helical spring-I19 downatlre "Stll'dilfl. Ihispositionis maintained .bya spring 128 between the plate I5 and the strap 524. ;However, when the solenoid is energized, the ':move- 'ment ofrits armature 23 will revolveithe disc II to ;its second position so the teeth -I2 and 514 will clear each otherand so :the bracket [3 and=the helicalispring :I'9 may .be:moved down the :stud Ill.

The solenoid -2I is included in an "electrical :ciricuitahav ing a switch 29 and. another similar ::so1e inoid which actuates the opposite :mechanism is :includedjn an electrical circuit havinga similar switch, :and :the whole device :is 'mounted .on {the :clapperfpendant "4 in such :a position that when the clapper 3 is swung the end I9 of the .spring :I9 *wiilLcontact the i barrel 8 :of the :bell "and-pre- "vent the :clapper 3 from striking the sound Fbow 52 unless thebracket I 3 carrying thespring fl 9 is spermitted'to move down :on-the stud :I'O.

Figures 5 and 6 show these different conditions. :In Figure 5,5the.iS018110idlZ| is :unenergized and the spring I9 'ispreventing theclapper :3 zfrom contacting-the sound bow i2 of the'bell. In figure 'the switch 29 is closed, which has energizedthe solenoid '2 I moving :the :disc III :and "permittingthe spring I9 to force the bracket I3 against the relatively weak "pressure of the springs I?! .so :the clapper 3zwi1l strike'the sound bow so'f .the :bell.

:If .it is desirable toproduce a single strike or a toll of the hell, it ?is first swung with the switches '29 left open so .therclapper .3 may not -:contact .the sound bow :2. When the bell has *reached its predetermined swing, :one of the switches 29 is closedandtthe mapper 3 contacts the sound :bow "producing 2a isingle :strike -or the toll. sin'cethe switch LZQiiS immediately opened, the result :is .:a single strike.

In'the zevent it is desirable that the ':bell;ring freely, both switches :29 are ;held :closed,1and this permits the :spring 19 to be moved towards the clapper pendant 4 and :the bell :is freely :run as "if the-silencer .wereinot' present.

From the above, it is apparent thatibyiactuating the switches '29, *any series or spacing of --'strikesmay*be accomplishedsuch as :a single-toll orthe playing 'of .theeAngelus. -At.the:end;of:the

An elus when the bells are to ring freely, both contacts or switches 29 on the bell are held closed. While I have shown my bell silencer as bein mounted on a removable bracket 6, it is to be understood that it is within the contemplation of my invention to incorporate my silencer into the clapper pendant 4 of the bell as a permanent part thereof.

While I have shown torque solenoids for controlling the movement of the disc I other mechanisms either mechanical or electrical could be used to accomplish this purpose.

It is to be particularly noted that the bell is always rung when it is at the top of its swing as shown in Figures 5 and 6 and the bell may be tolled by this method which insures the mouth 9 projecting at an angle to the vertical and thus throwing the sound away from the structure underlying the bell.

It is to .be understood that modification may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not intend to limit myself otherwise than as pointed out in the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bell having a clapper swingable in a single plane, a damper comprising oppositely opposed projecting helical springs mounted on the clapper pendant within the plane of its swing, said springs being of suflicient length to contact the bell barrel and prevent the clapper from striking the sound bow of the bell and selective means permitting the retraction of said springs selectively to permit the clapper to strike the sound bow.

2. In a bell having a clapper swingable in a single plane, a damper comprising oppositely opposed projecting helical springs mounted on the clapper pendant within the plane of its swing, said springs being of suflicient length to contact the bell barrel and prevent the clamper from striking the sound bow of the bell and selective means permitting the retraction of said springs selectively to permit the clapper to strike the sound bow, said springs being mounted on a bracket slidably mounted on projecting studs and resiliently urged away from the clapper pendant and said means comprising a rotatable disc mounted on said stud between the spring holding bracket and the clapper pendant, inwardly projecting teeth on said disc and downwardly projecting teeth on said bracket, said teeth being arranged so that at one position of the disc they will register and block the movement of the bracket, while at another position of the disc they will permit the intermeshing of the teeth and the movement of the bracket towards the clapper pendant.

3. In combination with a bell having a clapper adapted to be swung in a single plane, a bell spring and silencer comprising oppositely opposed studs projecting from the clapper pendant in the plane of its swing, a spring holding bracket slidably and non-rotatively mounted on each stud and resiliently urged away from the clapper pendant by relatively weak springs, relatively heavy helical bell springs mounted on said bracket and projecting in the plane of swing and of sufiicient length to contact the bell barrel before the clapper contacts the sound bow, and adjustable means on said studs to selectively prevent and permit the sliding of said spring holding bracket on its stud to prevent and permit 8 the clapper to strike the sound bow and ring the bell.

4. In combination with a bell having a clapper adapted to be swung in a single plane, a bell spring and silencer comprising oppositely opposed studs projecting from the clapper pendant in the plane of its swing, a spring holding bracket slidably and non-rotatively mounted on each stud and resiliently urged away from the clapper pendant by relatively weak springs, relatively heavy helical bell springs mounted on said bracket and projecting in the plane of swing and of sufiicient length to contact the bell barrel before the clapper contacts the sound bow, and adjustable means on said studs to selectively prevent and permit the sliding of said spring holding bracket on its stud to prevent and permit the clapper to strike the sound bow and ring the bell, said adjustable means comprising a revolvable disc surrounding each stud and having inwardly projecting teeth which in one position of the disc register with downwardly projecting teeth on the spring holding bracket and prevent its movement and in another position mesh with the teeth of the bracket and permit its movement on the stud.

5. In combination with a bell having a clapper adapted to be swung in a single plane, a bell spring and silencer comprising oppositely opposed studs projecting from the clapper pendant in the plane of its swing, a spring holding bracket slidably and non-rotatively mounted on each stud and resiliently urged away from the clapper pendant b relatively weak springs, rela tively heavy helical bell springs mounted on said bracket and projecting in the plane of swing and of sufficient length to contact the bell barrel before the clapper contacts the sound bow, and adjustable means on said studs to selectively prevent and permit the sliding of said spring holding bracket on its stud to prevent and permit the clapper to strike the sound bow and ring the bell, said adjustable means comprising a revolvable disc surrounding each stud and having inwardly projecting teeth which in one position of the disc register with downwardly pro- J'ecting teeth on the spring holding bracket and prevent its movement and in another position mesh with the teeth of the bracket and permit its movement on the stud, and a torque solenoid operatively attached to each disc for revolving them to their different positions.

6. In combination with a bell having a clapper adapted to be swung in a single plane, a bell spring and silencer comprising oppositely opposed studs projecting from the clapper pendant in the plane of its swing, a spring holding bracket slidably and non-rotatively mounted on each stud and resiliently urged away from the clapper pendant by relatively weak springs, relatively heavy helical bell springs mounted on said bracket and projecting in the plane of swing and of suflicient length to contact the bell barrel before the clapper contacts the sound bow, and adjustable means on said studs to selectively prevent and permit the sliding of said spring holding bracket on its stud to prevent and permit the clapper to strike the sound bow and ring the bell, said adjustable means comprising a revolvable disc surrounding each stud and having inwardly projecting teeth which in one position of the disc register with downwardly projecting teeth on the spring holding bracket and prevent its movement and in another position 16 mesh with the teeth of the bracket and permit gamma movement rmtheflstud, and a terque solenoid having its armature linked to each disc so that when the solenoid isunenergized the teeth will register .and the -be11-:bezsilent-and when-energized. the teeth will mesh and the bell ring, and a {5 :switch for each solenoid remote from the bell.

WILLIAM MERRILL ALLEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of -record in the 0 file of this patent:

Number Number UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Name Date Burrows \et a1. V June .4, .1935 Roy -r v r v t Sept. V26, .1950

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain -t v. Sept. ,28, 1911 

